New KU Football Gameday Elements Will Elevate Fan Experience
Sept. 4, 2009
At the Kansas football season opener against Northern Colorado at 6 p.m. Saturday, fans will notice several new elements throughout Memorial Stadium which will elevate the fan’s gameday experience.
KU Guest Services:
In an effort to make Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium one of the most fan-friendly venues in the country, Kansas Athletics has announced several customer service features for the 2009 football season.
• A system is now in place for in-stadium emergencies, issues, or concerns to help fans enjoy the game. Fans can text the keyword “KUHELP,” along with their issue and stadium location, to 41513, and an attendant will promptly respond and handle your issue.
• Guest services locations have been added to assist fans with questions or issues that may arise at Memorial Stadium. Guest services gazebos will be located outside both the north and south end zones, complementing the fan information booth inside the stadium on the concourse of Sec. 10.
• Members of Kansas Athletics will reward fans who display good sportsmanship or perform a kind deed with upgrades and other perks through the new Random Jays of Kindness program.
• A new email address, guestservices@ku.edu, is devoted to assisting fans on non-game days. Fans may use this email for any issues or suggestions that could improve the gameday experience.
New Concessions:
Kansas Athletics has partnered with Centerplate to provide new food and beverage concessions stations throughout Memorial Stadium. As part of its services, Centerplate has upgraded concession stands and service carts, and introduced new menu concepts alongside traditional Jayhawk fans’ favorites.
Free Programs:
Kansas Athletics will distribute 7,500 free game programs in the concourses of Memorial Stadium. Over the past several years, the programs were sold for $5. The Kansas football game program includes team rosters, depth charts, game notes and feature stories.
Hy-Vee Hawk Zone:
Adding to the pregame experience on Campanile Hill is the revitalized Hy-Vee Hawk Zone. Located just south of the Anderson Family Football Complex, the Hy-Vee Hawk Zone opens two hours prior to kickoff and will feature kids activities and inflatable interactive games, food and beverage vendors from Hy-Vee and the live broadcast of The Crimson and Blue Line pregame show.
The Hy-Vee Hawk Zone will also feature KU teams and student-athletes visiting with kids and signing autographs. The tentative schedule of teams is:
9/5 vs. Northern Colorado—Women’s soccer team and Head Coach Mark Francis
9/19 vs. Duke—Men’s basketball team
9/26 vs. Southern Mississippi—Women’s basketball team
10/10 vs. Iowa State—TBA
10/24 vs. Oklahoma—TBA
11/14 vs. Nebraska—TBA
This year, the inflatable games will be powered by biofuel generators using cooking oil from Mrs. E’s cafeteria on campus. Engineers from the University of Kansas Biodiesel Initiative designed the generators.
